Pay Homage….

I was 9 when it was released. At around that time my interest of hip-hop was akin to Tony’s Blair’s knowledge of hyphy music (oh please…google it!!). Nonetheless, my discovery of this album precisely 5 years later did alter my perception of what rap was and what it should sound like. Prior to my musical uncovering, I knew hip-hop only as Snoop Doggy Dog’s ‘Doggy Style’ and Biggie’s ‘Ready To Die’, for these albums; dubbed on to 90 minute TDK’s never left my tape deck.

Hailed and praised twice over, by music critics and journalists, I wanted to know what all the fuss was about. I remember picking up the CD. 10 tracks? Is that all, I recall thinking when looking at the track listing. Not knowing of course, that in my hands I held one of hip-hop’s most groundbreaking long players. Before Nasir dropped this album New York rap (kinda like how it is now) was in dire straits. Do your research; even the Jigga man acknowledged what a gem God Son’s debut was on The Dynasty album, ‘This Can’t Be Life’

‘It's like '93, '94, bout the year
that Big and Mag dropped; and "‘Illmatic’" rocked outta every rag drop’

The usual topic of discussion whenever rap is the focal point, among rap purists and indie kids, to them (and this is always the case!) ‘Illmatic’ was Nas’s gift and his curse. His gift because it showcased his incredible lyricism, as well as changing perceptions of what a typical rap LP should sound like. His curse because post ‘Illmatic’ offerings have never lived up to his much acclaimed debut.

For me, I’m a Nas fan and always have been since the unearthing of this particular album 8 years ago in a small record shop in Lewisham.

For me ‘Illmatic’ initiated my love affair with New York, for this is all I heard when I first listened to this album. Street gritty, New York verses thought out by a writer, who seemed to be living in hell itself, but found escape through poetry over beats.

For me, in a age where both integrity and creativity is grossly lacking in music, I can only hope that maybe one day some wide eyed 10 year old, stumbles upon a Sway, Kano or Klashnekoff album and feels exactly what I felt when I first heard ‘Illmatic’.